Soldier’s body arriving in Oak Ridge Friday

The body of Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward will arrive at the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base early Friday and will then be escorted to Oak Ridge.

by Beverly Majors/Staff

The body of Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward will arrive at the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base early Friday and will then be escorted to Oak Ridge.

Local law enforcement officers will escort the sergeant’s body to Oak Ridge from the McGhee Tyson air base. Oak Ridge Police Department officers will lead the formal escort with officers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Knoxville Police Department, Blount County Sheriff’s Department and the Alcoa Police Department participating.

Oak Ridge Officer Matt Johnston, who is coordinating the procession, said most officers will be riding law enforcement motorcycles. He said the military hadn’t given an estimated time of arrival, but Johnston said it would be “between 8 a.m. and noon.”

The procession will travel along Alcoa Highway to Pellissippi Parkway and then to South Illinois Avenue and the Oak Ridge Turnpike. The sergeant’s body should arrive at Weatherford’s Mortuary before noon.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has asked the city to honor the loss of Staff Sgt. Christopher Ward of Oak Ridge with the ceremonial lowering of flags to half staff.

“In recognition of losing one of our own, and as authorized by administrative procedures of the city, as city manager, I am directing that flags at City Hall and city facilities be flown at half-staff from noon Friday, April 12, 2013, until sunset, April 13, 2013, as a gesture of our affection for this fallen soldier,” Watson said in a press release emailed Thursday afternoon.

Sgt. Ward was killed in action during the recent bombing in Afghanistan. He was one of six Americans who died in an attack bombing on April 6 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Chris Ward moved to Oak Ridge with his mother from Florida and attended Oak Ridge High during his junior year. He enlisted in the Army at age 17 and "embraced the military life with enthusiasm," his family said.

He will be honored for his service on Saturday at Weatherford Mortuary. Friends and family will share their stories and memories of Chris from 10 a.m. to noon.

The staff sergeant will receive full military honors for his ultimate sacrifice.

Beverly Majors can be contacted at (865) 220-5514.

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